Verity Movie Cast and How to Watch: Who Plays Who and When It Streams
Verity, the movie version of Colleen Hoover's bestselling psychological thriller, opened in U.S. theaters on Friday, October 2, 2026. Anne Hathaway plays the title character, Dakota Johnson plays the writer hired to finish her books and Josh Hartnett plays Verity's husband. Michael Showalter directed the film for Amazon MGM Studios.
Here's who's in the cast, what the story is about and how to watch Verity, including what to know if you're hoping to watch it at home through DIRECTV.
Quick answer
- Where to watch now: in theaters only. It opened in the U.S. on October 2, 2026.
- Streaming or digital: no date has been announced yet.
- Stars: Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett.
- Director: Michael Showalter. Screenplay by Nick Antosca.
- Rating: R, with a running time just under two hours.
What is Verity about?
Lowen Ashleigh is a struggling writer who needs work. She gets an unusual offer: finish the bestselling book series of Verity Crawford, a famous author who can't write after a mysterious accident. Lowen moves into the Crawford family's remote house to go through Verity's notes. There she finds something she wasn't supposed to see, a manuscript that reads like Verity's own confessions, including disturbing passages about her husband, Jeremy, and their family.
As Lowen grows closer to Jeremy, she has to decide what to believe and whether to reveal what she's found. The movie is based on Hoover's 2018 novel. Hoover fans will remember It Ends With Us, the 2024 film based on another of her bestsellers.
Verity cast and characters
| Actor | Character | You may know them from |
|---|---|---|
| Dakota Johnson | Lowen Ashleigh, a struggling writer | Fifty Shades of Grey, The Social Network |
| Anne Hathaway | Verity Crawford, a bestselling author | The Devil Wears Prada, Les Misérables, The Idea of You |
| Josh Hartnett | Jeremy Crawford, Verity's husband | Oppenheimer, Black Hawk Down |
| Ismael Cruz Córdova | Corey, Lowen's literary agent | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power |
| Brady Wagner | Crew Crawford, Verity and Jeremy's young son | — |
| Asel Swango | Frida | Power Book II: Ghost |
| Daniel Echevarria | Alex | Daredevil: Born Again |
The cast also includes Irina Dvorovenko, K.K. Moggie and Michael Abbott Jr. Podcaster Alex Cooper appears as herself.
Dakota Johnson as Lowen Ashleigh
Lowen is the outsider in the Crawford home. She takes the job for the money and the break it could give her career, then finds herself reading things that make her doubt everyone in the house, including herself. Johnson is best known for the Fifty Shades films.
Anne Hathaway as Verity Crawford
Verity is a hugely successful author whose life changed after a serious accident. Most of what Lowen and the audience learn about her comes from her own writing, which is exactly what makes her so hard to read. Hathaway won an Oscar for Les Misérables and also starred in Showalter's The Idea of You.
Josh Hartnett as Jeremy Crawford
Jeremy hires Lowen to finish his wife's books while he cares for Verity and their son. He's warm and welcoming, and Lowen is drawn to him, which gets complicated once she reads what Verity wrote about their marriage. Hartnett's recent credits include Oppenheimer.
Who made Verity?
- Director: Michael Showalter (The Idea of You).
- Screenplay: Nick Antosca, adapting Colleen Hoover's novel.
- Music: Volker Bertelmann. The soundtrack album came out on Lakeshore Records the same day as the film.
- Cinematography: Jim Frohna.
- Studio: Amazon MGM Studios.
How to watch Verity
Right now, Verity is playing only in theaters. Amazon MGM Studios released it in the U.S. and Canada on October 2, after a world premiere in London on September 24. Box office trackers projected an opening weekend of $30 million to $35 million from about 3,510 North American theaters.
It isn't available to rent, buy or stream yet, and Amazon MGM Studios hasn't announced a digital or streaming date. It's rated R for sexual content, language, bloody images, some nudity and violence, so it isn't one for family movie night.
Can I watch Verity on DIRECTV?
Not yet. Verity isn't on TV, on demand or on any streaming service while it's in theaters. When it does come home, DIRECTV customers with a Gemini streaming device already have the Prime Video app preloaded, along with apps like Netflix, Hulu and HBO Max, so you can watch streaming services on the same device as your live TV. Separate subscriptions are required for those apps. Our DIRECTV Gemini Air vs. Amazon Fire TV comparison explains how the device works, and you can read whether the Prime Video free trial is really free.
Until then, if you want a twisty thriller tonight, see our list of movies with crazy twists, or browse free movies and shows to stream this week.
Thinking about DIRECTV for movie nights? Call American TV at 1-855-690-9884 to compare packages.
Frequently asked questions
Who plays Verity in the movie?
Anne Hathaway plays Verity Crawford.
Who plays Lowen in Verity?
Dakota Johnson plays Lowen Ashleigh.
Who plays Jeremy in Verity?
Josh Hartnett plays Jeremy Crawford.
When did Verity come out?
It opened in U.S. theaters on October 2, 2026.
Is Verity streaming?
No. It's in theaters only, and no streaming or digital release date has been announced.
What is Verity rated?
R, for sexual content, language, bloody images, some nudity and violence.
Is the Verity movie based on a book?
Yes. It's based on Colleen Hoover's 2018 novel Verity.
Details reviewed October 2, 2026. Release plans, ratings and availability are set by the studio and distributors and may change. Streaming apps require separate subscriptions. DIRECTV, Gemini, Prime Video, Amazon MGM Studios and related marks belong to their respective owners. American TV is an independent dealer and resource site.